This bill establishes a timeline to transfer the administration of school elections in Montana from school clerks to county election administrators, with the goal of completing the transition by July 1, 2029. It requires state education officials, county superintendents, and county election administrators to submit a detailed report by March 1, 2026, outlining the current election structure, logistical concerns, and a proposed transition plan to a state committee. The committee will then review the report and recommend any necessary legal changes to the 70th Legislature to facilitate the transfer of duties. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.
This bill revises Montana's nuisance laws by updating definitions of public and private nuisances and establishing specific exceptions to prevent certain activities from being classified as nuisances. It clarifies that lawful actions, government-authorized activities, shooting range operations during permitted hours, and agricultural activities are generally not considered nuisances, while also protecting long-standing farming operations from complaints based on changed neighborhood conditions. The legislation creates a private cause of action for public nuisances, limits liability to those who directly caused the nuisance, and allows government entities to take action to abate public nuisances. Additionally, it repeals several existing nuisance-related statutes and establishes preemption, meaning these new rules override common law and conflicting state laws on the subject.
This bill revises Montana's workers' compensation laws by clarifying who qualifies for coverage and establishing new eligibility rules. It explicitly includes lawfully employed aliens while prohibiting unlawfully employed aliens from receiving workers' compensation benefits. The legislation also requires insurers to close claims for individuals who leave the United States or certain U.S. territories while a claim is active. Additionally, the bill updates definitions to cover various groups such as vocational trainees, community service workers, and inmates in prison industries programs, while maintaining exclusions for volunteers and foster parents. These changes aim to streamline how workers' compensation claims are handled and define the scope of covered workers more precisely.
This bill requires the Montana Department of Revenue to obtain written permission from property owners before entering private land to conduct property tax appraisals or audits. It directly affects landowners and the state tax assessment staff by establishing new access rules that protect private property rights. Under the new provisions, the department must publish annual notices informing landowners of their right to be present during inspections and to request that an agent accompany assessors. If permission is denied or scheduling cannot be arranged, assessors must estimate property values without entering the land, and tax appeal boards cannot use denied entry as grounds to reject value adjustments unless the owner provides a certified appraisal. The law also clarifies that vehicle access is limited to established roads unless the landowner grants additional permission.
This bill expands Montana's criminal record expungement laws to include certain nonviolent felony offenses, allowing individuals with such convictions to petition for the permanent removal of their criminal records. It defines expungement as the permanent destruction or erasure of arrest and court records, while excluding violent offenses and certain serious crimes like assault, stalking, and driving under the influence. Under the new provisions, people convicted of nonviolent felonies may request expungement after a 10-year waiting period without new charges, whereas misdemeanor expungement requires a 5-year wait. The bill also establishes that expungement is presumed if the petitioner has no pending charges and meets the waiting period requirements, though courts retain discretion to deny requests based on factors like rehabilitation and likelihood of reoffending.
This bill updates Montana's insurance laws to strengthen protections for policyholders when insurers decide not to renew or cancel their insurance policies. It requires insurers to provide clearer reasons for nonrenewal decisions and extends the notice period from 45 to 90 days before a policy anniversary date, giving consumers more time to find alternative coverage. The legislation also prevents insurers from using simple inquiries about insurance terms as grounds for denying coverage or raising premiums, and it gives policyholders the opportunity to address specific reasons for nonrenewal before a policy expires. Additionally, the bill clarifies rules around premium increases and ensures insurers must disclose in advance if a single loss could lead to nonrenewal.
This bill, known as the Building Families Act, requires health insurance plans in Montana to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment services, including in vitro fertilization, for covered individuals and their dependents. The law applies to small group, large group, and individual health insurance policies issued or renewed in the state and establishes a lifetime coverage limit of at least $25,000 for fertilization services. Insurance plans must treat infertility medications and services the same as other prescription medications and cannot impose different deductibles, waiting periods, or benefit restrictions on infertility care compared to other medical services. The bill defines infertility based on age-specific timeframes for attempting pregnancy and includes coverage for cases involving life-threatening genetic diseases.
This bill establishes the Agricultural Emissions Right to Repair Act, requiring manufacturers of agricultural equipment to allow independent repair providers and equipment owners to purchase parts and repair emissions systems. The law mandates that manufacturers make parts, documentation, and diagnostic tools available on fair and reasonable terms without requiring special contracts or imposing unnecessary restrictions. It defines key terms such as agricultural equipment, independent repair providers, and emissions systems to clarify the scope of the requirements. The legislation applies to equipment used in farming, horticulture, viticulture, dairy, livestock, poultry, beekeeping, forestry, and property maintenance, while explicitly excluding standard motor vehicles.
This bill allows property owners who do not live in the area being taxed to vote in local mill levy elections, expanding the traditional rule that only residents can vote. The measure would let any person who owns real property within a taxing jurisdiction cast one vote in these elections, even if they rent or own a home elsewhere. Property owners must prove they have paid taxes on the property to qualify, and joint owners can each vote individually. The bill also requires election ballots to include information about how the tax increase might affect rental costs and specific tax impacts on homes valued at $100,000, $300,000, and $600,000.
This bill revises the membership composition of Montana's Public Safety Officer Standards and Training Council to ensure broader representation across law enforcement and related fields. The council will consist of up to 13 voting members appointed by the governor, including representatives from state law enforcement, police chiefs, sheriffs, corrections, tribal law enforcement, county attorneys, and communications officers, among others. The bill also adds a misdemeanor probation officer and two general citizens with law enforcement experience to the council. These changes take effect immediately upon passage and approval, updating the council's structure to reflect diverse perspectives within the public safety system.
This bill establishes a grant program to train healthcare providers in nonmedication therapies for treating posttraumatic stress disorder in Montana. The Department of Labor and Industry will administer $600,000 in funding to support a two-year project that certifies providers licensed under state or federal veterans affairs regulations in these therapies. The program will also develop operational procedures, engage in community planning efforts, and track outcomes such as the number of trained providers and patients treated. Eligible expenses include training program licensing, facilitator costs, and travel for staff and trainees, with final reports due to the legislature by July 1, 2026.
This bill directs Montana school districts to merge elementary and high school systems into single K-12 districts by July 1, 2029, with the exception of specific cases already defined in state law. County superintendents must work with local school boards to create and submit detailed reorganization plans by March 1, 2026, which include enrollment data, boundary maps, board structures, and financial considerations to the Education Interim Committee. The committee will review these plans and recommend any necessary legal changes to the legislature for implementation. The law takes effect immediately upon passage and approval.
